MICKY WARD believes he must reach new heights to secure a starting shirt at Newcastle Falcons this year.

The Falcons stalwart launched his testimonial year at Jubilee Primary School in Wallsend, and quickly turned attentions to the new season.

After 13 seasons at Kingston Park, the 31-year-old told the Chronicle his playing ambitions burn brighter than ever, despite adding the scrum coaching duties to his remit.

Wallsend-born Ward had a simple two-minute walk from his home to his former school yesterday, but once the Aviva Premiership gets underway he admitted he will have a testing time securing his coveted tighthead spot.

Toulon signing Tim Ryan and young gun Kieran Brookes provide fierce competition for the scrummaging fulcrum role vacated by departed skipper Carl Hayman. Hopeful that his new coaching duties will improve his own game just as much as that of his competitors, Ward said he must raise his own standards to give credence to his new job.

He explained: “I’m reviewing the lads and myself too, so I feel I’ve got to be right on top of my game to be able to tell other people what to do.

“I can’t let my game slip if I am then going to be telling other people what to do.

“So I’ve got to be at the top of my own game to be able to say ‘this is what you’ve got to do’.

“I’ve got to raise my game right up, and as well I’ve got to do that because of the new signings.

“There’s a lot of pressure on us to perform, and I want to get that tighthead shirt.

“As much as I want to coach the lads I want to get that tighthead jersey.

“The shirt’s definitely up for grabs. There’s some quality lads come in, don’t get me wrong, but I’m confident in my own ability.

“Last year was tough with Jonny Golding playing so well and Carl being Carl, but this year I think I’ve got a real good chance.

“I feel better than ever, got a new enthusiasm with the coaching, so I’m raring to go, to nail that No 3 jersey to my back.”

Backing powerful Brookes to make a real name for himself provided he keeps working hard, Ward said Toulon capture Ryan has shown himself a committed new recruit in next to no time.

Ward continued: “Potentially Kieran can be phenomenal – if he uses what he’s got, he can be a great player and hopefully I can help him with that.

“He’s got all the attributes, he’s fast, quick and agile – put it this way, I wish I had what he’s got when I was his age.

“I didn’t have half of what he’s got physically, so we’ll just have to see how he goes over the next couple of years.

“Tim’s a good professional who has worked with some good players at Munster and Toulon, he’s committed and he works hard.

“He wants to do well for the club – even though he’s only been here a few weeks you still see that.

“He’s exactly what we need, because he’s played at a good level and he showed up well in the European Challenge Cup final.

“You’ve got to have four props in the match squad anyway, and then you have one or two injuries and you are down to your bare bones, so you’ve got to have a good amount of props in the squad.

“We’ve got six guys all fighting for positions, and they’ll all get a good amount of rugby I think across the year – individually though everyone will want to play slightly more of that than everyone else.”